Dominican Republic police bust illicit alcohol plant, seize 32 kg of drugs

The Ministry of Interior and Police, together with the Specialized Corps for Fuel and Merchandise Control (CECCOM), dismantled a clandestine alcohol factory in the Barrera district of Azua. Inspectors found 106 tanks holding roughly 25,440 L of fermenting liquid believed to be clerén or triculí. The substance was destroyed on site and the containers rendered unusable. Interior Minister Faride Raful said, "These actions reflect the government's commitment to protecting the lives, health and safety of our citizens."

In a coordinated operation involving the National Directorate for Drug Control and the Public Ministry, 25 simultaneous raids were carried out in the provinces of Santiago, La Altagracia, San Pedro de Macorís and Duarte. Authorities arrested 123 people and seized more than 32 kg of narcotics—including coca‑paste, marijuana, crack and tusi—along with firearms, scales, mobile phones and other evidence. The seized drugs were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences for analysis.